Window-blind



WINDOW BLIND.

Patented Mary 11, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER J. ARTHUR, OF FORT DODGE, IOYVA.

WINDOW-BLIND.

SPEGIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,543, dated May 11, 1886.

Application filed October 19, 1885. Serial No. 180,232. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, ALEXANDER J. AR- THUR, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, have invented an Improvement in VVindow-Blinds, of which the following is a specification.

In my application,No. 159,762, filed March 23, 1885, I have shown a window-blind with vertical slats hinged at opposite edges and folding in a zigzag direction back against the window-easing.

My present invention relates to the combination, with the vertical slats in a folding blind, of grooved guide-bars for receiving projecting studs upon the ends of the blindslats, and thereby guiding the same and ret aining them in position and preventing them swinging open under the action of wind or otherwise. I

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a window with my improvements applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is a vertical-section, in larger size, representing the top, bottom, and intermediate grooved guides and bars and the end portions of the slats.

The slats A are usually of wood and united together by hinges, and these hinges are at suitable distances apart, and the hinges between two of the slats are at the inner face of the blind, and the next hinges are at the outer face of the blind, so that the slats will fold in alternate opposite directions, and can be opened out or spread across the window, or pressed back against the window-frame, as they shut together in a zigzag direction, as set forth in my aforesaid application. At the top or bottom, or both, of each slat or alternate slats are projecting studs C, and

' these studs are used to guide the windowblind sections and steady the samein place when open for use. Iprovide grooved guides for receiving these studs, such grooved guides being attached to or formed with the window-sill at D, or the window-lintel at E, or both, or, where desired, a crossbar, F, grooved on its upper and lower surfaces, may be attached at its ends to the window-case, about in line with the meeting-rails of the sashes, to guide the pins 0 at the bottom ends of the upper slats, or at the upper ends of the lower slats, orboth.

The guides on the sill and lintel may be dispensed with when the center guide is used, and it will be now apparent that by this improvement I am able to retain the sections forming the window-blinds in whatever positions they may be placed, whether fully extended and hooked, or whether partially eX-- tended.

The grooved guides may be made in any desired manner-such, for instance, as grooved wooden strips or bars, or U-shaped strips of sheet metal, or by two bars united together.

The guides may extend entirely across the window, or be separated for each blind-section, and, if desired, the guide for each blind-section may be hinged, as at 2, so that the outer portion may be swung either up or down when' the blinds are closed together against the window-frame, the end portion,in which the studs 0 are contained when the blind is folded, being stationary.

My improved blinds may be used in railway-cars or carriages as well as in buildings.

It is preferable to guide and sustain the slats at both ends, and by using the central horizontal guide-bar I am able to effect this object; but the grooved guides upon or formed in the sill or lintel, respectively, will guide the blind-slats as the same are moved in opening or closing the blinds.

I do not herein claim any peculiarity in the hinges or in the manner of connecting the blind-slats together, as these are set forth in my aforesaid application.

In windowblinds heretofore made slats have been hinged together so as to fold, and

there have been guide-strips upon the window-casing; but when the blind slats are folded together they occupy more space widthwise than when opened; hence the space that is wide enough for the slats when folded is much too wide for the same when unfolded for use, and there is a looseness that allows the blinds to move back and forth. By

my improvement the pins at the ends of the I upon the ends of the slats move in opening or re slats hold the same from lateral motion, wheth er in a folded or unfolded position.

I claim as my invention closing the blind-sections, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 12th day of October, A.

The combination, with the vertical blind- D. 1885.

slats hinged together at alternate sides and provided with projecting studs at the top or bottom ends, or both, of a, horizontal grooved guide or guides in which the studs ALEX. J. ARTHUR.

Witnesses:

ANsEL HUMPHREYS, FRED. E. HUMPHRnYs. 

